By Tukur Muntari
Kano – The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has called on all state governments to partner with the Federal Government in order to provide quality and inclusive education in the country.
He made the call at the 62nd meeting of the National Council on Education (NEC) ministerial session in Kano on Thursday.
“I call on all states to rise up to their responsibility and partner with the Federal Government to provide quality and inclusive education to our children.
“It is a reality and an irony of sorts to complain of underfunding of education, while the Universal Basic Education (UBE) funds are not accessed by the states,” he said.
Adamu, however, noted that inclusive education and quality learning opportunities for all could only be guaranteed through a skilled and motivated workforce.
He said that for teacher quality to be guaranteed, there was a compelling need to improve the quality of those seeking to join the teaching profession and raise the quality of pre-service teacher training programmes.
“There is also a need to develop the skills of serving teachers continually, and motivate teachers by improving their conditions of service,” the minister said.
According to him, the Federal Government was doing everything within its capacity to tackle the issues through effective pre-service education and continuing professional development (CPD).
He said this informed the decision to commence the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) for basic education teachers and managers all over the country, pointing out that funds have been made available to states to replicate the noble initiative.
In addition, he said, the Federal Government had mandated the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) to reintroduce the Professional Qualifying Examination, to serve as a major pre-requisite for admittance into the teaching profession in the country.
“The council has already given a two-year moratorium for teachers to register and get certified.
The minister said the measure was necessary because the development of any nation depended largely on the kind of education that was available to its citizens.
In his remarks, the Kano State Governor, represented by his Deputy, Prof Hafiz Abubakar, stressed the need for the Federal Government to give special support to the state, in view of its population.
“Even if we dedicate our annual total budget to education, it will not solve the problems of the sector,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the Minister was accompanied to the ministerial session by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Gozie Anwukah, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Adamu Husaini, as well as other top officials of the Ministry. (NAN) MTM/PIO